Youk and Howard Head to DL: First Basemen Down

Projected Starters - A look at Wednesday's matchups (all times Eastern):

Reds (Johnny Cueto – R) at Pirates (Jeff Karstens – R), 12:35 ET
Blue Jays (Shaun Marcum – R) at Yankees (Phil Hughes – R), 1:05 ET
Brewers (Manny Parra – L) at Cubs (Ryan Dempster – R), 2:20 ET
Giants (Madison Bumgarner – L) at Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez – R), 3:10 ET
Royals (Sean O'Sullivan – R) at Athletics (Brett Anderson – L), 3:35 ET
Angels (Ervin Santana – R) at Orioles (Brian Matusz – L), 7:05 ET
White Sox (Edwin Jackson – R) at Tigers (Armando Galarraga – R), 7:05 ET
Mets (Mike Pelfrey – R) at Braves (Kris Medlen – R), 7:10 ET
Phillies (Kyle Kendrick – R) at Marlins (Anibal Sanchez – R), 7:10 ET
Indians (Justin Masterson – R) at Red Sox (Jon Lester – L), 7:10 ET
Twins (Scott Baker – R) at Rays (David Price – L), 7:10 ET
Astros (J.A. Happ – L) at Cardinals (Chris Carpenter – R), 8:15 ET
Nationals (Craig Stammen – R) at Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy – R), 9:40 ET
Padres (Wade LeBlanc – L) at Dodgers (Vicente Padilla – R), 10:10 ET
Rangers (C.J. Wilson – L) at Mariners (Doug Fister – R), 10:10 ET

Day game following a night game: CIN, PIT, TOR, NYY, MIL, CHC, SFO, COL, KAN, OAK

Injuries
A brief look at players that have been missing time with minor ailments and their expected returns.

Day-to-Day (includes players expceted to make their return from the DL)

Joe Mauer, C, Twins (shoulder) – Back in Tuesday's lineup
Carlos Pena, 1B, Rays (foot) – Out of Tuesday's lineup for third game in a row
Ben Zobrist, 2B, Rays (back) – Can pinch-hit Tuesday, hoping to return to lineup Wednesday
Juan Uribe, 3B, Giants (leg) – Took BP Tuesday, but not ready to return to Tuesday's lineup
Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies (ribs) – Won't go on DL, but will miss at least a few more days
Carlos Gomez, OF, Brewers (head) – Did some light activity, but not ready to return
Rafael Furcal, SS, Dodgers (back) – Out of lineup Tuesday pending MRI results
Joey Votto, 1B, Reds (wrist) – Took BP Tuesday, but not ready for lineup
Jason Motte, P, Cardinals (shoulder) – Had shoulder examined Tuesday, not expected to be out long
Felipe Lopez, 2B, Cardinals (knee) – Missed Tuesday's game but should be back Wednesday

Players on the DL

Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins (concussion) – Quit Monday's workout early, still no timetable
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox (foot) – Likely to rehab before activation
Mitch Talbot, P, Indians (back) – Expected to be activated Aug. 14
Orlando Hudson, 2B, Twins (oblique) – Took BP from left side Monday, hoping for Aug. 8 return
Andy Pettitte, P, Yankees (groin) – Could return next week
Erick Threets, P, White Sox (toe) – Turf toe lands him on DL
Travis Hafner, DH, Indians (shoulder) – Finally placed on DL Tuesday
Brandon Inge, 3B, Tigers (hand) – Could return Wednesday after one rehab game
Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox (thumb) – Landed on DL, season in question
Carlos Santana, C, Indians (knee) – On DL, possible surgery coming
Andrew Bailey, P, Athletics (back) – Will play catch Wednesday, could return by this weekend
Erik Bedard, P, Mariners (shoulder) – Out for season, shoulder surgery Friday
Matt Treanor, C, Rangers (knee) – Worked out Tuesday
Martin Prado, 2B, Braves (finger) – Placed on DL, but could miss minimum
Carlos Silva, P, Cubs (illness) – Placed on DL with abnormal heart rate
David Eckstein, 2B, Padres (calf) – Out at least another week
Steven Pearce, 1B, Pirates (knee) – Season-ending surgery on tap Wednesday
Jason Marquis, P, Nationals (elbow) – Should be back in MLB rotation soon
Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies (ankle) – Placed on DL, not quite sure how long he will miss
David Freese, 3B, Cardinals (ankle) – Out for rest of regular season
Jeff Weaver, P, Dodgers (knee) – Placed on DL following lousy performance Monday
Manny Ramirez, OF, Dodgers (calf) – Out at least another week
Stephen Strasburg, P, Nationals (shoulder) – Had bullpen session Tuesday, should return Aug. 10
Orlando Cabrera, SS, Reds (oblique) – Placed on DL Tuesday with strained oblique
Mike Adams, P, Padres (oblique) – Targeting weekend return

Transactions
Players that have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here

Placed on the DL (15-Day unless otherwise noted)
Erick Threets, P, White Sox
Carlos Santana, C, Indians
Travis Hafner, DH, Indians
Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox
Orlando Cabrera, SS, Reds
Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies

Activated from the DL
Mike Lowell, 1B, Red Sox
Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies
Geoff Blum, 1B, Astros

Called Up
Dan Johnson, 1B, Rays
Sean West, P, Marlins
Peter Bourjos, OF, Angels
Carlos Torres, P, White Sox
Adam Moore, C, Mariners
Lou Marson, C, Indians
David Huff, P, Indians
Juan Francisco, 3B, Reds
Mitch Atkins, P, Cubs
John Mayberry, OF, Phillies
Allen Craig, OF, Cardinals

Sent Down
Jeremy Hellickson, P, Rays
Rob Johnson, C, Mariners
Jeff Larish, 1B, Athletics (claimed off waivers from Tigers)
Wes Hodges, 3B, Rockies (claimed off waivers from Indians)
Jorge Sosa, P, Marlins (designated for assignment)
Brian Schlitter, P, Cubs
Nick Stavinoha, OF, Cardinals
Adam Heether, 3B, Athletics (designated for assignment)
Jonathan Herrera, 2B, Rockies
Anderson Hernandez, SS, Astros (designated for assignment)

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left).

CLE – Chris Perez has a save in each of the Indians last three games and he continues to strengthen his grip on the job.

TAM– Dan Wheeler picked up a save while Rafael Soriano was unavailable.

WAS – Sean Burnett picked up a save after throwing 1.2 perfect innings with two strikeouts. He had the advantage of having some left-handed opponents and that is why he completed the game. Drew Storen still appears to be the favorite for save opportunities in the long run.

Key Matchups
– Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included). *Check Status

Hot

Andrew McCutchen v. Johnny Cueto – 5-for-16 (.313), 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .389 OBP
Brandon Phillips v. Jeff Karstens – 5-for-12 (.417), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .417 OBP
Rickie Weeks v. Ryan Dempster – 9-for-25 (.360), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 6:6 BB:K, .485 OBP
Pablo Sandoval v. Ubaldo Jimenez – 10-for-25 (.400) , 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1:5 BB:K, .423 OBP
Brian McCann v. Mike Pelfrey – 15-for-34 (.441) , 1 HR, 7 RBI, 5:3 BB:K, .513 OBP
Chipper Jones v. Mike Pelfrey – 8-for-24 (.333), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 10:4 BB:K, .514 OBP
Miguel Tejada v. Vicente Padilla – 5-for-14 (.357), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .400 OBP
Jorge Posada v. Shaun Marcum – 7-for-15 (.467), 4 HR, 7 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .529 OBP
Robinson Cano v. Shaun Marcum – 5-for-11 (.455), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .500 OBP
Brian Roberts v. Ervin Santana – 10-for-27 (.370), 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2:4 BB:K, .414 OBP
Nick Markakis v. Ervin Santana – 9-for-24 (.375), 3 HR, 10 RBI, 0:4 BB:K, .375 OBP
Julio Lugo v. Ervin Santana – 7-for-16 (.438), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .438 OBP
Paul Konerko v. Armando Galarraga – 4-for-8 (.500), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5:2 BB:K, .643 OBP
Carl Crawford v. Scott Baker – 5-for-10 (.500), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2:1 BB:K, .583 OBP
Jose Lopez v. C.J. Wilson – 8-for-16 (.500), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:0 BB:K, .556 OBP

Anibal Sanchez v. Phillies – Sanchez has been particularly good against current Phillies despite an awful BB:K ratio (22 BB, 28 K). With Ryan Howard having been placed on the DL, the Phillies can hardly field the powerful lineup the team is used to. That means you can take stock in Sanchez's .211/.310/.333 line against in this matchup.

Cold

Ryan Braun v. Ryan Dempster – 6-for-33 (.182), 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2:5 BB:K, .289 OBP
Corey Hart v. Ryan Dempster – 4-for-27 (.148) , 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4:8 BB:K, .281 OBP
Aaron Rowand v. Ubaldo Jimenez – 6-for-30 (.200), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1:9 BB:K, .273 OBP
Jayson Werth v. Anibal Sanchez – 2-for-16 (.125), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:10 BB:K, .125 OBP
Carlos Lee v. Chris Carpenter – 7-for-37 (.189), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2:11 BB:K, .225 OBP
Hunter Pence v. Chris Carpenter – 1-for-12 (.083), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0:6 BB:K, .083 OBP
Adam Lind v. Phillip Hughes – 2-for-13 (.154), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0:7 BB:K, .154 OBP
Johnny Damon v. Edwin Jackson – 4-for-26 (.154), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:3 BB:K, .241 OBP
Carlos Pena v. Scott Baker – 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .083 OBP

Shaun Marcum v. Yankees – Marcum has as small a sample size against the pinstripes as I would use to invest an opinion, but he has allowed eight home runs in just 81 at-bats against current Yankees. That blows up his line against to .358/.464/.704. It could be the time to give Marcum a rest in your rotation.

Ervin Santana v. Orioles – You'd think we were off for calling someone cold against the Orioles. But if you take a look above, you'll see that Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts have put a hurt on Santana in the past. Ty Wigginton just missed the cut above. If you don't need to start Santana, give him a break this time around.

Recommended Pickup

Jose Tabata, OF, Pirates – We recommended Tabata when he was first called up in June and it wasn't a bad idea to take a stab on him back then. Now Tabata is just removed from a 12-game hitting streak and he is proving to be a sleeper commodity for steals. He was a highly regarded prospect before the Yankees went sour on him and there is still a very good possibility he becomes a pretty useful fantasy guy.

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